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Diversity, Inclusion & Welcoming Events

 

 

 

Start Date Title Description Tags
Oct 26, 2024 01:00 PM Juneteenth Reckoning with Slavery MN African American History ('diversity',)
Oct 18, 2024 04:00 PM Asian Pacific Minnesotans Leadership Awards Dinner We the People: 40 Years of empowering Asian Pacific Minnesotans ('diversity', 'Asian')
Oct 14, 2024 12:00 PM Indigenous Peoples Day ('diversity',)
Oct 09, 2024 12:00 PM Equity Alliance Equity Series Equity Eats: Reviving Roots, Restoring Ecosystem Economies Through Indigenous Foodways In this episode we will delve into the transformative mission of the mnfoodrescue.org Equity Eats initiatives that are at the forefront of restoring and promoting regenerative food systems across Minnesota. We explore how the initiatives revive Indigenous foodways, grounded in food web design, while also honoring the rich Indigenous history in Minnesota and the First Nations' right to food sovereignty. By ('DMC', 'Diversity', 'latino', 'Entrepreneurship')
Oct 07, 2024 04:00 PM SBDC: Hispanic Heritage Month Community Celebration The celebration will consist of: The first networking event for Spanish speaking small business owners Resource tables/Spanish speaking representatives from organizations in town that provide resources for Spanish speaking small business owners An introduction to the organizations that made the event possible An introduction to the instructors and their affiliations (SBDC, ACHLA Alliance of Chicanos, Hispanics and Latin Americans) and the SBA) Certificates awarded to the small business owners who participated in our workshops ('diversity', 'community engagement', 'Entrepreneurship')
Oct 04, 2024 07:00 PM ICAM: Garba & DANDIA Night For the First Time in Rochester - ICAM presents Eight Person Music Band from Gujarat to get you dancing the night away at the Garba and Dandiya Dance Festival of India! Garba is a dance that honors, worships, and celebrates the feminine form of divinity. ('Culture', 'Diversity', 'community')
Oct 04, 2024 05:30 PM 2024 IMAA Presents Pearl Gala Celebrate IMAA’s 40th anniversary and support our mission. Become a Partner in Empowering, Advancing & Redefining Lives by joining us at our annual fundraising event. Be a part of the inspiring journey, where together, we create a future of empowerment, beauty, and value for all. ('diversity', 'imaa', 'community', 'immigrant', 'CMRC')
Sep 28, 2024 05:00 PM C.E.R.T. 3rd Annual Gala Please join us in celebrating dedicated Community members that have rendered outstanding services and support to our Community. ('public safety', 'Diversity', 'cmrc', 'civic engagement')
Sep 26, 2024 05:00 PM The Power of Your Story A Mental Health Workshop for Youth ('mental health', 'diversity', 'youth', 'openbeam', 'united way')
Sep 21, 2024 03:00 PM NAACP: Break The Hate – Community Forum To Activate Change To further this effort, we are launching a community empowerment initiative symbolizing the triumph of love over hatred and racism, with more details to be shared in the coming weeks. ('diversity', 'NAACP')
Sep 21, 2024 10:00 AM (Spanish) Financial Literacy Join SBA’s Minnesota District Office to discuss strategies for strong financial management. Learn how to utilize your financial statements to become better-positioned and understand the importance of financial literacy to the success of your business. Topics include: Bookkeeping, Financial Statements, Cash Flow, Business Financing, & Access to Capital. ('diversity', 'Entrepreneurship')
Sep 18, 2024 12:00 PM Latino Economic Development Center: Creating Generational Wealth One Entrepreneur at a Time .At the Latino Economic Development Center, we understand the obstacles that our Latino communities face, and we help aspiring business owners to overcome those barriers to achieve their dreams - and create generational wealth while doing it. ('DMC', 'Diversity', 'Entrepreneurship', 'key', 'latino')
Sep 16, 2024 06:00 PM (Spanish) Finding your First Customers and sell without being salesy Congratulations on your new endeavor! Now it’s time to sell! But most people do not like being “sold”… Now what? Learn where to find your first customers and how to sell without being pushy. ('diversity', 'Entrepreneurship')
Sep 14, 2024 12:00 PM Latino Fest 2024 Dance Get ready to move and groove to the infectious beats of Latino music! The air will be filled with the rhythm of salsa, merengue, bachata, and more. Don't be shy to join in on the dance floor – our talented dancers will gladly teach you a step or two! Food Indulge in a culinary adventure like no other! Savor the delectable flavors of traditional Latino cuisine. From tantalizing gorditas to mouthwatering mangonadas, your taste buds are in for an absolute treat! Culture This event is not just about celebration; it's about unity and fostering a sense of community. Latino Fest brings together diverse cultures under one roof, promoting understanding, friendship, and harmony. The event will be held inside and outside tentative of the weather ('culture', 'Diversity', 'cmrc', 'community')
Aug 31, 2024 05:00 PM Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs: Community Listening Session Please share within your networks! This Listening Session for the Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs hosted locally by COPAL Rochester and ACHLA will take place on Saturday, August 31 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. A meal will be provided for attendees. Seats are limited, so the organizers are asking attendees to register to confirm their attendance. ('Diversity',)
Aug 14, 2024 12:00 PM Youth Engagement from the Youth Perspective Discover the fundamentals of engaging with young people from the perspective of the Rochester Community Initiative (RCI), a 100% youth-led nonprofit. ('Housing', 'DMC', 'Diversity', 'key')
Jul 24, 2024 11:00 AM Women’s Foundation of Minnesota Community Connect Event Community Connect is an informal biannual gathering for community members from across the state to meet and find serendipitous connections to their next funder, accomplice, or co-conspirator. This event is not just for the outgoing and social—we’re confident it will be a meaningful and welcoming experience for extroverts and introverts alike. ('diversity', 'community')
Jul 20, 2024 04:30 PM UTSAV: The Festival of Colors 2024 Join us on Saturday, July 20th, 2024, from 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM for UTSAV: The Festival of Colors, a vibrant celebration of the diverse cultural heritage of the Asian Indian community. This event is open to all, and we welcome everyone to come and have fun! Enjoy delicious food, color splash, captivating dance performances, mesmerizing music, and explore a diverse array of products available for browsing. ('youth', 'education', 'diversity', 'community')
Jul 17, 2024 12:00 PM Virtual Information Session: Mobilizing Olmsted Voices for Equity Learn about how you can be the voice of your community and make a difference in helping to shape its future. ('Diversity', 'governance')
Jul 13, 2024 12:00 PM Farm Fest 204 The FARM Fest is an event for all of us to share the cross-cultural experience as we are building community, sharing customs and cultural connections, and increasing our overall health, ('food', 'diversity', 'community engagement')
Document Actions

Two types of event information being shared in the following:

1. A list of Beam aware upcoming community events of all types. 

2. A list of noteworthy past events that have one or more of the following contents: presentation slides, video recordings as well as takeaways. 

Upcoming Events
Rochester's Sister City - German Trip Jun 12, 2026 - Jun 22, 2026
2026 Juneteenth Jubilee Breakfast Jun 19, 2026 09:30 AM - 11:30 AM — Empire Event Center.
Bike to Work (or Anywhere!) Day Returns June 23 Jun 23, 2026 06:30 AM - 09:00 AM
ROCHESTERFEST 2026 Jun 23, 2026 - Jun 27, 2026 — Soldiers Field
Bush Fellowship Information Session Jun 23, 2026 04:30 PM - 06:00 PM — United Way of Southeast Minnesota Services Building at 903 West Center St, Suite 100, Rochester, MN
S.M.A.R.T. Pre-K Workshop SMIF & A Chance to Grow Jul 14, 2026 - Jul 16, 2026
Healthy Brain Workshop 4: Sound Bowl Healing and Stress Management Jul 20, 2026 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM — 125 Live
Disability Summit Jul 24, 2026 09:00 AM - 12:30 PM — Commons Area at the Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC) Heintz Center
6th Annual Rochester Community Back-to-School Party Aug 15, 2026 12:00 PM - 04:00 PM — Soldiers Field
Upcoming events…
Community News

This panel displays the latest community news. For a standalone view please click this LINK.



Housing Program DevCo Rochester

Adopting a Resolution adopting the Housing Program, the issuance of Conduit Multifamily Housing Revenue Bonds and the execution of related documents relating to the DevCo Rochester Apartments Project.

Last Updated June 14, 2026



Economic Development News

2026: Health tech firms status

2023 Highlights: 1. 2Q 2023  Economic Report ;  2. Tawonda Burks has joined the RAEDI staff full-time as Director of Operations. In addition to managing the RAEDI Economic Development Center; 3, SBDC 1H 2023 performance report

Last Updated June 13, 2026



Healthy Brain Workshop Series

 2026 Summer Workshop Series 

 

Last Updated June 08, 2026



University of Minnesota Expansion Funding Considerations

Jun 2026: City Council Voted to Approve the funding

May 2026: UMR DMC: Funding Request to contribute to Talent Development Infrastructure

Apr 27, 2026: UMR discussion at City Council Study Session Sales Tax Request

Last Updated June 05, 2026



RPS Proposed Budget Reductions

Jun 2, 2026: School Board 2026 budget

April 21, 2026: School Board Meeting Revised Proposed Leadership Changes 

April 7, 2026: Budget Reduction Impact

Sep 12, 2023 RPS Board Study Session video recording; Proposed Equity Policy; PB Reporting

Last Updated June 04, 2026



1Q 2026 Announcements

Jun 2, 2026: #RochMNTogether Yard Sign Campaign

Jan 5, 2026: Resolution: Reaffirming Rochester’s Support for its Somali Community and Commitment to Inclusion.

2026 Summer Paid Internship Positions: City Clerk, community Development, Communications & Engagement, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Legislative Affairs, Library Communications, Office of the Mayor, Parks & Recreation , Public Music, Rochester Public Utilities Safety, and Transit & Parking.

 

 

Last Updated June 02, 2026



Sports Complex Phase Two Indoor Recreation Option and Next Steps

Jun 1, 2026 City Council Meeting: PB reporting

Apr 27,  2026 City Council Study Session

Last Updated May 31, 2026



Home Innovation Lab - Aging in Place

May 2026: Home Innovation Lab Open House

Dec 2025 DMCC Board Meeting: The Home Innovation Lab will combine research, technology, and design to create and evaluate “tech-enabled age-in-place” living environments that improve health, comfort, and independence for older adults.

Apr 2025 DMC Real Estate Summit: Aging in place talk

Last Updated May 31, 2026



Sherman Mixed Housing Mayo Civic Center Parking Lot

May 2026 DMCC Board Meeting: Status Update

June 3, 2024 City Council Meeting 

Council action is requested to continue development negotiations with Sherman Associates and conditionally approve development assistance of up to $13,000,000 in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) assistance and up to $3,000,000 in DMC General State Infrastructure Aid.  

Last Updated May 24, 2026



Mayflower mixed housing project

May 2026:DMCC Board Meeting, Mayflower Project Update

Jul 2025 Mayflower mixed housing project summary; North side of Second Street Southwest across the street from Ronald McDonald House.

Feb 2025 DMCC Board Meeting 2nd Street Public Realm and Mayflower

Last Updated May 24, 2026



United Way Studies of Financial Hardship

2025 ALICE Info: United Way 2025 Study

2024 ALICE Info: Post Bulletin Reporting; United Way 2024 ALICE  (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) Report 

Last Updated May 24, 2026



West Transit Village Housing Development

May 2026 DMCC Board Update

April 1 2026 AEON Affordable Housing Townhall

May 2025 DMCC Board Meeting Report

Feb 2025 DMCC Board Meeting Memo

PB reporting re Jan 6 City Council Meeting

"A final plan for dividing a 14.1-acre Mayo Clinic parking lot into developable sections is expected to be reviewed Monday by the Rochester City Council. The site, being dubbed “West Transit Village,” sits between Second Street Southwest and Cascade Lake. It is currently used as a Mayo Clinic employee shuttle lot, and Mayo Clinic plans to construct a 2,500-stall parking structure."

Last Updated May 24, 2026



Loom Apartments (Onward)

May 2026 DMCC Board Meeting: Status Update

Dec 2025 DMCC Board Meeting: Request for Extension Authorize an extension of the $4 million GSIA allocation to this project until August 15, 2026.

May 2025 DMCC Board Meeting

Last Updated May 24, 2026



DMC Interim Wayfinding

May 2026 DMCC Board Meeting

Last Updated May 23, 2026



Discovery Square Biolbab In Rochester

May 2026 DMCC Board Meeting: Biolabs Status

December 2025 DMCC Board Meeting:

  • Request for Action Memo
  • Business Development Quarterly Review about Biolabs

Last Updated May 22, 2026



Discovery Walk

May 2026 DMCC Board Meeting Discovery Walk Update - Completion

March 2021 DMCC approval for Bid

Last Updated May 22, 2026



DMC STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL

May 2026: Consider a recommendation to approve up to $3 million in DMC General State Infrastructure Aid (GSIA)

Last Updated May 22, 2026



Healthy Home Helpers

City of Rochester Launches “Healthy Home Helpers” Program to Support Healthier, More Efficient Homes

Last Updated May 22, 2026



RPS 2030 Strategic Plan Reviews

May 19. 2026 RPS Board Voting

Apr 12, 2026 RPS Board Meeting: High School 

Mar 17, 2026 RPS Board Meeting: Middle School

Mar 3, 2026 RPS Board Meeting: Elementary School & Early Childhood 

Last Updated May 20, 2026



Does Rochester need a new entertainment venue?

A feasibility study is underway for a performing arts center, but what does the city already have?

Last Updated May 18, 2026